Women’s March LA

By Mary O’KEEFE

I have attended a few protests/marches in the past but the Women’s March LA was different in a positive way.

This latest political season has been extremely negative and, as a reporter, I did not have the luxury of just turning away from the battle but instead had an unfortunate front row seat. So from the beginning I had my concerns about the Women’s March LA.

According to organizers, there were 750,000 people at the Los Angeles march alone and I can attest that I probably bumped into about half of them. The streets and sidewalks were jam-packed with people and, although we were not real sure where we were supposed to march, everyone was incredibly polite and happy.

My older daughter and I attended the march. It was a little disorganized but it seemed everywhere we stopped there was a speaker who was eloquent and fun. The day even began in a marvelous, positive way.

My daughter and I went to Pasadena to catch the Metro – something thousands of others thought to do all at the same time. We waited in line for about an hour to buy a ticket and, while we were there, people were laughing, babies and toddlers were giggling and there was a surreal feeling. The rainy skies had made way for the sun and it seemed like we were all so happy.

We met a woman in line named Patricia and struck up a friendship. We joked, talked about the march and finally realized we had probably waited way too long at the Metro station. When other marchers came up the stairs to tell us the trains were too crowded, we began to look into hiring Lyft or Urber. The prices were a little too pricy, so I called my son who had a few minutes free. He picked up my daughter, Patricia and myself and dropped us in LA.

Patricia was an immigrant from Ireland, by the way, and even that seemed perfectly natural.

We were dropped off several blocks from Pershing Square, the beginning of the march. As we were making our way there we saw a bunch of people marching. They said, “Join us” and we did. We walked to the back side of city hall and heard several speakers. LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn was particularly wonderful. She made us feel like we were all Angelenos, all part of a big LA County family. With the election of Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the board of supervisors is now four-to- one female. And that seemed to be the theme of the day, not for women to dominate like on the board of sups, but to be represented.

At one point we were asked to move down Broadway to make room for the other marchers who were stuck on the street above us. What impressed me was the age range of the marchers, from people in their 80s-plus to babies in backpacks.

As we made our way down the street we found we had reached a dead-end because there was a large stage in front of us. There was a monitor that wasn’t working so we had to kind of guess who was speaking and then, without any big announcement, the main program began. My daughter and I were hungry but we decided to stay in the crowd to see who was coming to the stage.

“And now welcome Barbra Streisand,” the announcer said. I have never seen my daughter’s eyes open that wide. She and I were so happy we decided to wait for lunch. Barbra was feisty and thoughtful and inspiring and when she ended her speech we looked at each other feeling our day was complete … then came Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Natalie Portman, Jamie Lee Curtis. And the celebrity names just kept coming.

Jane Fonda’s speech was inspiring. She brought clarity to the march. She said to reach out to everyone, from those who we don’t agree with politically to those who are apathetic. She told us that change comes from within the community and to support women who want to run for office.

Natalie Portman, who was pregnant, was also amazing. She appealed not only to mothers but also to those who have no desire to be a mother.

But I think for so many the real “oh, wow” performance was when Helen Reddy stood on the stage with Jamie Lee Curtis and sang her woman-rallying song from generations ago “I Am Woman.” As I walked through the crowd, women of all ages actually grabbed me and asked if it was really Helen Reddy and marveled at how she still sounded the same. I actually stopped and sang with one woman who grabbed my arm, singing.

To show that not all women think the same, there was a variety of groups at the event. There was a group of Republicans for Women who were marching alongside Democrats for Women. That’s something I wish Washington could emulate.

I have been known to be brought to tears by events like this, with its incredible kindness and sisterhood support, with its outreach and sense of fun, and with its ability to show the best in all of us. But I did not tear up once … I was strong until the end of the day when I saw the LA Police Dept. There was an impromptu sit-in and motorcycle police were trying to open the streets. The police were so kind; they all had white roses on their motorcycles and were so respectful to the 700,000-plus people. And we had to stand in line to thank them. So many people went up to say thank you for their service.

And then it happened again at the Metro station when we were all going home. So many people went up to the LA County Sheriff deputies and thanked them. And note that there was not one arrest at the march.

“We are still in awe of the outpouring of support that the event got. We can’t thank everyone who attended enough, and are proud of Los Angeles for unifying,” said Irene Aitkens, a WMLA organizer.

By the way, my younger daughter couldn’t attend because she was being her own Rosie the Riveter. She is a welder with the CVHS Falkons Robotics Team.

By Julie BUTCHER

On Saturday, Jan. 21 an estimated 750,000 people according to organizers took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles in support of the Women’s March on Washington, organized as a day of action, celebration and protest in cities across the country and world. A local announcement billed it as an event for “Everyone who stands for human rights, workers’ rights, civil rights, and compassion for our shared humanity.”

It was wonderfully festive, totally unorganized, and peaceful as could be. About half of the participants, by my observation, were young (mostly) women who had never marched before; the rest were all the rest of us. It was joyous and magical!

Said one participant, echoed by many, backed by so much pink: “There was an incredible politeness from the majority of the protesters. People were so close and I had never had so many boobs bump into me but everyone was saying ‘Sorry’ and ‘Excuse me.’ It was amazing!”

There was a variety of people there from old to young and of all races. The women who spoke were amazing. Janice Hahn was great and I think made us proud to be Angelenos.”

There was no apparent parade route. My adult son Steven, his friend Raj, and I walked from city hall to Pershing Square, got as close as we could and, along with a mass of other people, turned around where we were to march back to city hall. I saw bunches of LA City traffic officers but no police. Of course there was no need as it was peaceful, safe for babies and children and dogs, and so many women. Everywhere you looked, in every direction. I’ve been in large marches and rallies and this was by far among the largest of LA gatherings.

For me, it felt historic. To march with my son – on the weekend just before my 60th birthday – felt glorious and so very hopeful!

  Julie BUTCHER, Mary Okeefe